When life doesn't go as planned

My name is Debbie Netterville, and my husband Scott and I are missionaries in the USA. We help plant new churches and help small churches. Before we became missionaries my husband was pastoring a small church in Pasadena, TX. We had a very nice home, worked for the school district plus all the work at the church. Things were difficult and it was apparent the Lord was moving us in another direction. We had to close the church and sell our home. This definitely was not in the plans. I must admit when we bought our house, the Lord impressed upon my heart that when we would sell this house it would benefit us in the ministry ahead. Closing a church is a very difficult thing to do, yet the Lord was right there with us and directing us. We have been on the road full time now for two years and love our new ministry.

I’m sure we are alike in many ways, as we like to plan our future. Yet we know our future lies in the hands of our Lord. He truly does know what is best for us. As we travel through life the Lord brings trials, valleys and also the mountain tops. We need to just trust and obey as He directs. Sometimes it is ministry related, sometimes family, work, physical and spiritual. It is not always easy to travel and we may not know the “whys” until we get home.

In April of 2003 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We had just moved back to Texas from New Mexico. Scott was working part time at a small church and was looking for a full time job. I began having some physical problems and had to go to the clinic, where they began doing tests. The day of my CAT scan we were leaving the hospital and I felt faint. A nurse saw me, went to get a wheelchair and brought me back to the ER. More tests led them to admit me into the hospital. When the doctor came he informed us that I had ovarian cancer. That day changed our life drastically. We just sat there crying. Before Scott left the hospital with my sister, he went to the nurse’s station and told them I may need something to sleep. After they left I picked up my Bible and began looking up verses on faith and healing. When I came to II Kings 20:5 “…I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold I will heal thee…”, with tears streaming down my cheeks, I felt such a peace that everything was going to be OK. I called Scott and shared the verse. Also, I did not need any pills to sleep.

So after I got discharged from that small hospital in the country, they told us to work on getting into MD Anderson hospital in Houston, TX. So because we didn’t have insurance they would not accept us. Yet when Scott called MD Anderson he was connected with a lady (our angel) who told him what to do to get financial help from the hospital. The day I got an appointment, Scott got offered a job. Again, things don’t go as we think they ought to go. So he couldn’t accept the job, because then I wouldn’t be able to go to MD Anderson. I got my appointment very quickly, our angel, said we needed to get in as soon as possible. The day of my appointment she met us there and we all cried together. My surgery was May of 2003 and we never saw our angel again.

After surgery began chemo treatments, I had one every 3 weeks for 6 treatments. Cancer sure puts a kink in your lifestyle. Every week I had to have blood work and the list of doctor appointments went on. Being diagnosed with cancer does not only affect you, your spouse but your whole family and even friends. I was blessed that I wasn’t sick a lot from the chemo, mostly fatigue. I must say losing my hair was a bit emotional. I know through this I tried to be strong around everyone. At night was hard, Scott would hold me and would say “it is OK to cry and I didn’t need to be tough.” My family came from other states to help us. My sister and a niece came and stayed awhile.

Well, I went 6 years cancer free. Praise the Lord! It is amazing how precious each day becomes when told you have cancer. Then on December 22, 2009 at my yearly checkup I was told that it was back. Wow, I just sat there looking at my doctor. I knew what was before me AGAIN. This was not in my plans for the future again. Once was bad enough, this has to be a night mare. I was scheduled for surgery again on January 4, 2010. Now tests, surgery, chemo treatments, loss of hair and the family came to help again. So again I picked up my Bible looking for another verse to get me through this trial. The Lord gave me John 11:4 “…This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” The Lord has given us grace to go through all of these years. My last chemo treatment was May 27, 2010 (almost 6 years again) and as of my last checkup, I am still cancer free. God has been so good to me.

So as we go through life and it takes some major turns don’t give up. Turn to the one who is directing it all. I never thought I was going to die or I never even asked “why” actually I said “why not me”. I don’t know the reason now but as we travel I share the tract I wrote and my testimony to try to help others going through cancer.

When life doesn’t go as planned just lean on your heavenly Father. He has broad shoulders and will comfort you like no other. Here are a few more verses that helped me.

“ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold…” I Peter 1:7

“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.”

Ps. 29:11

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, unto these calamities be overpast.” Ps. 57:1

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Is. 41:10

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Is. 41:13